Community Corner

Girl Grabbed in the Night, 'No Justice, No Cabs,' Slavery Museum and Virginia City or Italian Village?

Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and Washington.

By Jamie Rogers

Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and Washington. Here are some of the top stories from around the region this week.

Police: Same Man Robs Same Bank 5 Times: Fairfax County police are investigating yet another robbery at TD Bank at 6615 Richmond Highway, according to a recent news release. Around 11 a.m. Sept. 9, a man entered the bank and demanded money. The bank teller complied and the suspect took an undisclosed amount of money and fled. There were no injuries reported. According to the FBI's Washington Field Office, the robber is believed to be the so-called "Beacon Hill Bandit," who is suspected of robbing the same bank four times between March 2010 and July 2013.

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New Fiat Commercial Features Manassas Posing as European CityA new commercial for one of the hottest European cars in America features Old Town Manassas posing as a charming Italian city. The Reston-based Skyhaq Agency chose Manassas to appear in the commercial for the 2014 Fiat 500L because of the city's historic appeal — someone at the company was familiar with Old Town Manassas and thought it would be a good stand-in for an old world European city.

Trader Joe's Kicks Part Timers Off Healthcare Plan: Trader Joe's, the grocer once lauded for providing health care coverage to its part-time workers, is about to push those employees off its plan. According to a memo obtained by the Huffington Post, the company will stop covering employees who work less than 30 hours per week. The change is set for the start of 2014. Instead of insurance, workers instead will get a check for $500 in January. The company has said that should be enough for its part-time employees to find health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

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Driver Goes to Hospital After Two-Car Crash: A wreck involving two cars was reported Sept. 9 in front of Top Golf and Ruby Tuesday in the Kingstowne area. A Chevrolet turning into the Top Golf parking lot collided with another vehicle going north on South Van Dorn Street, police said. Both cars sustained major damage, and one car ran into a tree in the restaurant's parking lot. One of the drivers was transported to a nearby hospital with visible injuries.

Reston Metro Stop Will Have More Parking Than Original Estimate: When the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop opens in 2014, it will have more parking spaces than the original 2,300 located in the seven-story Reston Station garage. An additional 1,100 spots — which will eventually be turned over to tenants of office buildings planned nearby — will be available to the public for a to-be-determined fee. The Wiehle stop will be the end of the line for at least five years. It is the only Silver Line Phase I station with parking.

'Modern Sharecropping' — Taxi Drivers Want Arlington to Investigate Working Conditions: The streets of Clarendon typically echo with the sounds you'd expect from a popular bar and restaurant district — but around lunchtime Tuesday, shouting voices carried a different message: "No justice, no cabs!" "Respect human rights for taxi drivers!" "We have to stop fighting taxi drivers for no reason!" "We want justice!" A throng of cab drivers, about 70 strong and representing seven different taxi companies, marched from Clarendon Central Park at the Metro station, down Clarendon Boulevard, through the Whole Foods parking lot and back down Wilson. They shouted, waved signs and handed out fliers — all in an effort to pressure the Arlington County Board to investigate their working conditions.

WBJ: Ben's Chili Bowl Coming to Rosslyn: Rosslyn's trading a hell burger for a half-smoke. Ben's Chili Bowl plans to open its first Virginia location early next year at 1725 Wilson Blvd. in Rosslyn, the spot formerly occupied by Ray's Hell Burger, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Reports: Teen Used Drugs, Needed Medical Attention in Hours Before DeathFairfax County investigators believe the 16-year-old McLean High School student found dead last month used illegal narcotics not long before she died — and that she was with three adults in the hours before her death who realized she needed medical attention but did not seek it, according to news reports.

Oak Marr RECenter Undergoing Renovations: A $3.8 million facelift for the Oak Marr RECenter is underway. The recreation center, at 3200 Jermantown Road in Oakton, is getting a 12,500-square-foot addition and a 5,700-square-foot renovation of the existing facility.

Shake Shack to Open in Tysons Corner: Shake Shack is coming to Tysons Corner in mid-2014. The gourmet burger joint plans to open next to the Tysons Corner Mall, according to a news release from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, the restaurant’s umbrella organization.

West Springfield Man Reportedly Attacked by NeighborA 42-year-old man was changing the oil in his vehicle when a neighbor allegedly attacked him with a knife. The victim was transported to the hospital with what was eventually determined to be non-life-threatening injuries. Jae Kim, 39, of Springfield, was charged with malicious wounding.

Lake Ridge Senior, 103, Wins Gold Medal in Wii Bowling Competition: A 103-year-old Lake Ridge resident won a gold medal this week at the Wii Bowling competition as part of the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics. Doris Woodring participated in the event on Tuesday at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield.

Governor Helps Celebrate Launch of Mach37 Accelerator in Herndon: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell was in Herndon on Thursday for the launch of the Mach37 Accelerator, an incubator of sorts that will help fledgling cybersecurity and defense companies hone their ideas and attract investors. McDonnell approved $2.5 million to fund Mach37’s first two years in operation, after which the accelerator will secure private funding. Each year, Mach37 will host up to 10 startups for 90-day accelerator sessions. See the first group of companies Mach37 selected to participate here.

Fairfax City Resident Fights Back, Fires Shot at Intruders: Fairfax City police are asking for the public’s help in locating two robbers who pushed their way into a townhome Sept. 8, assaulting the home’s residents and stealing several items. At one point, one of the residents managed to get to a handgun and fired a single shot in the robbers’ direction, possibly hitting one of them, and prompting them to run away.

Slavery Museum Considering Options to Stop Sale of Property: The National Slavery Museum is considering options to stop the sale of its Fredericksburg property, and museum founder and former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder joined the discussion last week. Ron Rosner, founder of the Rosner Auto Group in Fredericksburg, offered $1.5 million for the 38-acre property. Rosner wants to purchase the property for the Hagerstown Suns' multi-use stadium complex. Fredericksburg officials want to sell the property to recoup $346,000 in back taxes that the city is owed.

Man Grabs Girl Through Open Window: A 12-year-old girl woke up in the middle of the night Sept. 8 to find a man grabbing her through an open window, Prince William County Police said. Police responded at 3:17 a.m. to the 1400 block of Horner Road. The homeowner told police that her daughter was asleep inside her bedroom when she woke up to find the unknown man grabbing her. When the victim screamed, the man ran away. Police dispatched a K-9 to search for the man but did not find him.


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